The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-22
vIGILANTS AND OUTLAWS.
A Desperate Battle Fought on the Ar~
kansa9 River.

kansa9 River.
LITTLE ROCK. ARK, Got 21.--A special
to the Arkansas Gazette fsom Wamnlla, !.
T., via Muskogee this eve fng says; ION
Thursday desperate fight took place on the
north fork of the Arkansas river, between
Bud Trainor's gang of outlaws and vigi-
lance committee under the leadership of
Robert Henderson, n Scottish balf-breed,
who followed them from Duckworth's store,
in the Greek Nation, on the occasion
of a raid there on Wednesday. 1t appears
that the outlaws finding out the size OF the
force which was following them decided to
risk an encounter and made haste to reach
the river banks where they could find shell
ter behind the trees and in the ravines
which line tue banks on either side. In this
they succeeded, so that, when the vigilants
came up they were entirely, for time, at
the mercy of two score of men who knew
not what mercy was.
GETTING IN POSITION.
Henderson then took his men short dis
tance up the river, where a fording place
could be found, then crossed and took up
positions on the other side Of the stream
from the outlaws, and where his men were
as well protected as those OF Trainors. The
river at this point is only about 10 feet wide
and across this distance from Thursday
morning until Thursday night bullets were
the Vigilants had succeeded in obtaining
this position they found that they had lost
three men and two more were seriously
wounded As Trainor found the enemy
in his rear on the opposite side
of the river he sent half of his men
down the stream to cross and come up on
the other side, fighting under cover of tbs
trees. In this coup detat they were sur
prised by the avengers, who met them halt
way and opened fire upon them, checking
their course and driving them panic stricken
and precipitately back. In endeavoring 10
rally his men Bill Chuett was killed, anu
before the river could be reached and
forded, John Lerch, one of the robbers
gang, was shot off his horse
but was not killed. The fight from this ON
was continued across the stream, the banks
Of which were lined at distances of about
five rods apart with sharp shooters. No
sooner was head, arm or any part Of a
body visible on either side than leaden
bullet was seeking to find Judgement there.
AS Thursday night was coming, Henderson
called his men in for consultation, when il
was found that of his force eight men
were killed outright and eight others had
received serious, though not fatal wounds.
The force was in this way reduced one-half.
and il was thought best TO remove tha
wounded here and go back home and stir up
reinforcements. The dead were buried and
the wounded, il was found after dressing
their wounds, were able to return home
with the rest of the party. Itis thought thai
as many of the outlaws were killed as OF the
pursuing party, though this will never be
known. Henderson says he VIII collect LOG
men and follow the robbers to hades, If neS
essary, but that he will wipe Them out
Henry Ayres, well-to-do stock man for ths
Cherokee nation who was one OF the party
with Henderson. saws that Bud Trainer was
killed during the fight. He is OF the opinion
that not less than fifteen were killed Que
right upon both sides, and thinks that one,
half the outlaws who were not killed
were wounded Ii is by no means certain
that another party will be organized ia
hunt down the outlaws, as it is thought thf
severe lesson they have been taught will
tend to drive them from the Territory, OF
at least to put quietus on their lawlessnsss